NEWS

ICC membership elects new members to Board of Directors

The International Code Council selected the new officers and directors for its Board of Directors during the Annual Business Meeting at the organization’s Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The board is responsible for the Code Council’s strategic direction, while also acting as the voice of the association’s membership.

The newly elected executive committee is:

• President — Cindy Davis, CBO. Davis is the deputy director of the Virginia Division of Building and Fire Regulations. She also serves on the board of the National Institute of Building Sciences;
• Vice President — Michael Wich, CBO. Wich is the director of Building Code Administration and the Chief Building Official of the South Central Planning and Development Commission in Houma, Louisiana. He is a former president of the Building Officials Association of Louisiana;
• Secretary/Treasurer — Stuart Tom, P.E., CBO, FIAE. Tom is the plan check coordinator for the City of Burbank, California. He is a registered engineer in the states of Washington and California, holds a host of professional certifications, and is active in the development of fire and life safety codes and standards at the national and state level; and
• Immediate Past President — Greg Wheeler, CBO. Wheeler is the chief building official for Thornton, Colorado. He serves on the Colorado State Board of Appeals for School Construction and is a charter member and former president of the Colorado Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials.

Additionally, newly elected and re-elected members include:

• Benjamin Breadmore, Director at Large;
• Kris Bridges, MCP, Section E Director;
• Randy Metz, Section A Director;
• Jim Sayers, Director at Large; and
• David Spencer, CBO, Director at Large.

“This newly elected group of directors represents what our board has consistently been – a representation of the best professionals in the building safety industry,” said Dominic Sims, CBO, Chief Executive Officer of the International Code Council. “Their years of experience in the field, combined with their diverse backgrounds in building safety, will help bring a fresh perspective to our strategic thinking. We look forward to working together to ensure the Code Council is providing communities with the best products, services and support.”

2022 ASHRAE Winter Conference in Las Vegas offers in-person and virtual registration

Registration is now open for the 2022 ASHRAE Winter Conference, Jan. 29 – Feb. 2. Registration for the conference provides entry to the co-sponsored  AHR Expo, held Jan.31 – Feb. 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“The ASHRAE Winter Conference and AHR Expo bring together the world’s foremost built environment experts, professionals, building owners and exhibitors in one place,” said 2021-22 ASHRAE President Mick Schwedler, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, LEED AP. “This conference in Las Vegas will mark the Society’s first large in-person event since the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact and reach of ASHRAE conferences are truly one-of-a-kind. We look forward to providing attendees, both in-person and virtual, the resources and business networking to deliver solutions and navigate our rapidly changing building industry landscape.”

For the first time ever, the ASHRAE Winter Conference will be presented in a hybrid format, offering both in-person and virtual options for participation for attendees, provides convenience and affords global participation with a group of the world’s leading presenters delivering timely and useful industry content.

The conference will feature over 80 technical sessions with updates from Society leaders, tours, social events and live-streamed sessions for virtual attendees. Technical sessions will address building performance, energy system integration, international environmental health and IEQ and challenges and opportunities for industrial and commercial purposes. Conference registration is now open at  ashrae.org/2022winter.

ASHRAE is committed to the health and safety of our members and conference attendees. The Society is closely monitoring guidance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention for both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, the World Health Organization, and local health agencies regarding travel and events. ASHRAE’s Commitment to Care can be found on ashrae.org/2022winter and explains what in-person attendees can expect before, during and after the conference.

ASHRAE will also conduct business, committee and technical meetings in the weeks leading up to, and during the conference.

The technical program is comprised of seven tracks, featuring subject matter such as environmental health, energy system integration and examining building performance and resilience.

ASHRAE President Mick Schwedler will provide an update on the 2021-22 Society theme, “Personal Growth. Global Impact. Feed the Roots.” Members will be recognized for the industry and Society accomplishments. Major contributors to ASHRAE will also be recognized.

Professional development hours can be earned for all sessions and most online sessions upon successfully completing a short quiz.

The cost to attend the conference in person is $690 for ASHRAE members ($960 for non-members, which includes an ASHRAE membership for one year). Early bird discounts are available.

The cost to attend the conference virtually is $275 for ASHRAE members ($505 for non-members, which includes an ASHRAE membership for one year). Company packages are available. Please check the conference webpage for additional pricing.

In-person registration includes:

• Access to technical program from Sunday, Jan. 30 – Wednesday, Feb. 2 (seminars, workshops, paper sessions, debates and panels);
• Conference proceedings;
• Access to the virtual conference platform during the conference and for the 12-month post-conference period;
• Entry into the plenary session on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 3:15 p.m. (PT); and
• Networking coffee break on Sunday, Jan. 30 from 9 – 9:30 a.m. (PT).

Virtual registration includes:

• Access to up to ten (10) technical sessions live-streamed Sunday, Jan. 30 – Wednesday, Feb. 2 with the ability to post questions and comments for the speakers to answer live;
• Access to live-streamed Meeting of the Members Plenary session on Saturday, Jan. 29 featuring recognition of award recipients of ASHRAE’s most prestigious Society awards;
• Access to live-streamed President’s Luncheon on Monday, Jan. 31 featuring President Mick Schwedler’s State of the Society address;
• Exclusive access to live virtual sessions presented by speakers unable to attend the in-person conference;
• Conference proceedings. Download the technical papers and conference papers;
• Access to the on-demand conference content which includes recordings of the live sessions the day after they are presented. These sessions allow for attendees to take a quiz an earn a PDH certificate; and
• Access to the virtual conference environment for 12 months post-conference.

All registered attendees, both in-person and virtual, will have access to the conference platform during the conference and 12 months post-conference.

To learn more about the 2022 ASHRAE Winter Conference and to register, visit ashrae.org/2022winter.

Elkay donating bottle-filling stations through Chicago partnership

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Elkay will donate 101 Elkay ezH2O bottle filling stations at select city sites and nonprofits through a partnership with the city, Chicago Park District and Elevate to reduce plastic waste and expand cleaner, healthier drinking water throughout the south and west sides of Chicago. The units also include a lifetime supply of filters.  

The bottle filling stations will be installed on Chicago’s south and west sides in the city’s parks, buildings and community centers and will bring access to clean drinking water across locations that need it most while helping reduce single-use plastic waste. This donation coincides with Elkay’s milestone of the production of the 1-millionth ezH2O bottle filling station, which was installed in Chicago’s Garfield Park neighborhood late last month.

"Delivering clean, drinkable water to all of our neighborhoods remains one of my administration's highest priorities," Lightfoot said. "Thanks to this incredible partnership, we will be able to reach this goal by expanding our residents' access to filtered water as well as reaffirm our commitment to driving resources into our south and west sides. I am extremely grateful for Elkay and Elevate's generosity and look forward to working with them to build a brighter, cleaner and more equitable Chicago."

City sites will have the bottle filling stations installed by the AIS union and include select parks and libraries, the Department of Family Support Services and select sites from the Chicago Housing Authority and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities.

"It’s an honor to be able to serve the city in which Elkay was founded and contribute to a cleaner environment and healthier Chicago community for generations to come,” said Ted Hamilton, president of Elkay Plumbing. "We’re thrilled to be a part of this journey with the City of Chicago and Elevate. These installations will bring access to clean drinking water to locations that need it most, from schools to parks to youth centers and facilities."

Chicago’s south and west side communities have been advocating for improved access to safe, reliable and clean drinking water for years. With the onset of COVID-19, many residents were left with even more limitations to access water from parks and other public facilities.

“There has never been a better time to provide high-quality touchless water stations bringing healthy, safe and affordable access to clean water to communities on Chicago’s south and west sides,” said Anne Evens, CEO of Elevate. “We’re proud to partner with Elkay, the city of Chicago, and the Chicago Park District to make this possible.”

The installation of Elkay’s bottle filling stations began this summer and will continue to be installed in locations of need throughout the fall.

Bradley Corp. survey finds office workers taking coronavirus precautions

As office workers in the U.S. continue returning to their places of employment, Bradley Corp. conducted its Healthy Handwashing Survey and found that coronavirus concerns persist, especially as new variants emerge. In response, employees are taking preventive actions. 86% are bringing a mask with them to work and 73% have been fully vaccinated. In addition to masks, office workers are packing a few other personal protection items:  66% have their own hand sanitizer; 39% are taking cleaning wipes; and 29% are prepared with disinfectant spray.

The survey also revealed that, compared to the general population, office workers are significantly more conscious about coming in contact with germs and more concerned about contracting the coronavirus. 73% of office workers worry about getting the coronavirus versus 67% of the general population. And, due to the rise in new strains of the virus, 70% of office workers have implemented a more rigorous handwashing regimen versus 59% of the general population.

The Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley Corp. queried 1,035 American adults from Aug. 3-10, about their handwashing habits, concerns about the coronavirus and their return to the workplace. A subset of 513 respondents who work in offices were identified and asked a series of applicable questions. Participants were from around the country and were evenly split between men and women. The Healthy Handwashing Survey of the general population has a margin of error of +/- 3% and the office worker subset has a margin of error of +/- 4, with a 95% confidence level.

The ongoing pandemic has also led to changes in the work environment — namely how workers interact with their colleagues. At the office, 51% avoid shaking hands, 42% sit further away in meetings and 36% use a video call instead of meeting in person. In terms of hand hygiene, approximately two out of three office workers are washing their hands more frequently since returning to the office, with half washing six or more times a day.

“Office workers are returning to the workplace cautiously—particularly now with the prevalence of the Delta variant—and are personally taking steps to avoid germs and the virus,” says Jon Dommisse, vice president of marketing and corporate communication, Bradley Corp. “The coronavirus has notched up the need for cleaner workspaces, limited contact and increased handwashing.”

With office workers washing their hands more frequently, 62% report their employers have made changes or improvements to workplace restrooms in response to the pandemic, including more frequent cleanings. And, in a sign of today’s pandemic times, 79% of office workers believe touchless restroom fixtures are important. Case in point, when using their workplace restroom, two-thirds reach for a paper towel to avoid touching restroom door handles, the toilet flusher and faucet handles. Another one-third use their foot to operate the toilet flusher.

Within the workspace, employers have added hand sanitizing stations and encouraged employees to stay home when sick. Those actions haven’t gone unnoticed or unappreciated by employees. 53% of office workers say their employer’s response to the pandemic and implementation of safety measures makes them feel more valued and 35% say it makes them feel more positive about the company they work for.

For more information, visit bradleycorp.com/handwashing.

A. O. Smith offers new analytical tool to help states and policymakers decarbonize buildings

A. O. Smith Corp. released details of a new analytical tool designed to help states, policymakers, utilities, installers and consumers by analyzing energy use data to help attain achievable solutions to meet greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals for the future. The tool, as outlined in an A. O. Smith white paper entitled “Electrification of Water and Space Heating in Buildings,” provides a pragmatic roadmap to reducing GHG emissions resulting from water and space heating in buildings.

The company’s white paper details how the tool can be used to quantify energy use and environmental impact through various policy scenarios for residential and commercial space and water heating solutions in buildings. Among states highlighted are California and New York, two states with ambitious GHG reduction goals but very different climates and building inventories that are key factors in any solution. In these policy scenarios, the analysis also identifies associated costs, training and education needs and incentive considerations.

“Developing sustainable, innovative solutions in water heating is core to A. O. Smith’s values, and we look forward to building on the important work we are sharing today to help mitigate the impact of GHG emissions in our industry,” said Kevin J. Wheeler, chairman and CEO. “A. O. Smith made a strong commitment earlier this year by announcing a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 10% by 2025 and is pushing the envelope on product innovations to continue to be an industry leader in offering solutions to reduce carbon outputs.”

A. O. Smith, a global manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and water treatment products, has outlined recommendations for policymakers to drive building decarbonization. The proprietary analysis tool couples a state’s or city’s reduction goals with A. O. Smith’s historic and real-time data as well as current and future water and space heating innovations for both new construction and retrofits in residential and commercial buildings.

“As global commitments to sustainability and efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change continue to grow, the deployment and development of low carbon footprint technologies is of utmost importance. Now is the time to align national, state, and local pragmatic decarbonization policies, coupled with workforce training and consumer education, which will all be critical in moving the needle on reducing building emissions,” said Joshua Greene, corporate vice president, government and industry affairs.

According to Greene, consumer adoption of new space and water heating technologies and ultimately meeting greenhouse gas reduction goals will be driven by product affordability, lifestyle compatibility and incentives.

A. O. Smith will be offering the proprietary tool as well as its industry expertise to interested policy and energy leaders as states and cities consider goals, policies and solutions to reduce building carbon footprints.